24.04.2014

Representatives of Eustream, Ukrtransgaz and the European Commission express interest in signing the Memorandum of Understanding on Monday

The tripartite negotiations between Slovakia, Ukraine and the European Commission in Bratislava on 24 April showed that all three parties had an interest in launching the reverse flow of gas supplies to Ukraine as soon as possible.

The tripartite negotiations between Slovakia, Ukraine and the European Commission in Bratislava on 24 April showed that all three parties had an interest in launching the reverse flow of gas supplies to Ukraine as soon as possible. European Commissioner for Energy, Gunter Oettinger, declared that the launch of reverse supplies of gas through the Vojany gas pipeline should be effected as soon as possible and involve the largest possible volume of gas. He requested Slovak representatives to consider the possibility of supplying 10 billion m? a year already this year. Chairman of the Board of Directors of Eustream, Tomáš Mareček, promised that the Slovak gas transmission operator would do its maximum in this respect. Economy Minister Tomáš Malatínsky, just as European Commission representative Dieter-Klaus Borchard, emphasised that the signing of the Memorandum on the so-called small reverse (Vojany pipeline) does not mean that the parties will halt their endeavour to arrange also the so-called large reverse (use of the current transit gas pipeline, which carries Russian gas to the European Union). This scenario also requires more time, however, and according to an independent analysis of a renowned British law office, it is not possible to impose it without consultation with Gazprom Export, which holds a contract with Eustream and also exercises the function of transmission system operator in Ukraine based on a contract signed between Ukrainian and Russian partners. Ukrainian Energy Minister Juriy Prodan, despite all the submitted arguments, requested once again an examination of the option to incorporate certain changes to the Memorandum concerning the large reverse. The parties agreed that negotiations would continue in Kiev with the aim of preparing the Memorandum of Understanding ready for signing on Monday 28 April 2014 in Bratislava.All News